[pct-l] bicycles

[dsaufley at sprynet.com (dsaufley@sprynet.com)]

Kraig,

Safety is probably the biggest concern.  I am not an expert in this area in any way, but I am a hiker, avid (rabid) mountain biker, and equestrienne (I own two horses and ride them).  

The PCT is a hiking and equestrian trail, and the best reasons that I can think of that bicycles are not allowed is that (a) they weren't around in the early days of the formation of the PCT, and (b) they're fast and silent.  

The regulation width of the trail is 18", which technically does not allow room for both a horse or hiker and a bike.  Bicycles have come extremely close to collisions with both hikers and horse riders because neither party is aware that the other may be around the next turn, and there's no where to go other than off the trail, poste haste.  Add speed to that equation and you will find that the hikers and horse riders are NOT happy about bikes on the trail.  To the point of coming to blows (!).   

The PCT's earliest roots are equestrian in nature.  Backcountry Horsemen have played a significant role in the construction and maintenance of the Trail along its entire length.  Mountain bikes are a new comer to the trails (all trails) that were never considered when it was all put together.  The PCTA recently ran a poll in The Communicator, and the prospect of bikes lost resoundingly.  

But the PCTA is not the sole entity that determines this; the PCT's existence is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the various agencies (Nat'l Forest Service, BLM, Nat'l Parks, etc.).  To change the use designation would be a colossal undertaking:  first convincing the hiker and equestrian community that it should be allowed (good luck there), and then getting multiple agencies to agree (and double good luck there).

I know all too well how tempting the PCT is as probably the greatest single track ever built.  But it's just plain off limits.  Out of respect to all my fellow hikers, riders, and trail workers, I stay off of it and encourage all fellow mountain bikers to do the same.   IMHO, it's also a good topic to stay away from on the post, because it is one of the topics that can instigate some pretty intense arguments.  Kevin Corcoran, a trail manager for our section of the PCT, once coined this phrase that sums up the most likely topics to cause a flame war on this list:  bear-feeding, gun-toting illegal aliens on mountain bikes.  

With respect can understanding,

-=Donna Saufley=-

















-----Original Message-----
From: Kraig Mottar <kraig.mottar@verizon.net>
Sent: Dec 2, 2004 3:34 PM
To: Steve Courtway <scourtway@bpa-arch.com>, pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: Re: Re: [pct-l] bicycles

And I suppose there is a good reason for this which escapes me...

Did I mention I was referring to non-motorized bicycles, NOT motorcycles or anything with a motor, carberators, or gasoline?

Kraig

> From: "Steve Courtway" <scourtway@bpa-arch.com>
> Date: 2004/12/02 Thu PM 02:07:43 PST
> To: "Kraig Mottar" <kraig.mottar@verizon.net>,  <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] bicycles
> 
> federal law prohibits riding bikes on the PCT.
> 
> that said.....
> 
> heh heh,
> s.c.
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Kraig Mottar" <kraig.mottar@verizon.net>
> To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 1:21 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] bicycles
> 
> 
> > Can bicycles such as non-motorized mountain bikes be ridden of the PCT?
> > 
> > 
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